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Stenton (mansion)
Encyclopedia
Stenton, also known as the James Logan Home, was the country home of James Logan
, colonial Mayor of Philadelphia and Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Stenton, which was named for Logan's father's Scottish birthplace
, was built between 1723 and 1730 on 511 acres (2.1 km²) as the country seat of James Logan, who was recognized in his lifetime as "a universal man in the Renaissance tradition." Arriving in Philadelphia in 1699 as William Penn
's secretary, Logan occupied pivotal roles in the colony's government—including that of chief justice of the Supreme Court and acting governor—for 50 years. He assembled one of the best libraries in colonial America, discovered the vital role of pollen
in the fertilization of corn
(an achievement that caused Linnaeus to consider him "among the demigods of science"), and amassed a fortune in the fur trade.
The building is of red brick, with dark headers. The roof atop its 2½ stories is hipped
.
On James Logan's death in 1751, Stenton was inherited by his son, William Logan
(1717–1776). William used Stenton mainly as a summer residence, choosing to live in Philadelphia for the rest of the year. He also built the kitchen and added many fine furnishings.
On William's death in 1776, Stenton was in turn inherited by his son, Dr. George Logan
(1753–1821), a physician and later US Senator. The house figured in the 1777 Battle of Germantown
, and served as headquarters of both General George Washington
and British General Lord William Howe
. George married Deborah Norris (1761–1839), a noted diarist and historian, and the person to whom Sally Wister's Journal
was written, in 1781. The mansion remained in the hands of the Logan family until 1910, when it was acquired by the City of Philadelphia.
Stenton, now open as a historic house museum, is an outstanding example of early American Georgian architecture. Stenton was designated a National Historic Landmark
on January 12, 1965. The mansion lends its name to nearby Stenton Park and Stenton Avenue. The village of Stanton
in Readington Township, New Jersey
also borrows its name from the mansion.
James Logan (statesman)
James Logan , a statesman and scholar, was born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Ireland of Scottish descent and Quaker parentage. In 1689, the Logan family moved to Bristol, England where, in 1693, James replaced his father as schoolmaster...
, colonial Mayor of Philadelphia and Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Stenton, which was named for Logan's father's Scottish birthplace
Stenton
Stenton is a parish and village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is bounded on the north by parts of the parishes of Prestonkirk and Dunbar, on the east by Spott and on the west by Whittingehame. The name is said to be of Saxon derivation. In earlier times, when names were often written phonetically,...
, was built between 1723 and 1730 on 511 acres (2.1 km²) as the country seat of James Logan, who was recognized in his lifetime as "a universal man in the Renaissance tradition." Arriving in Philadelphia in 1699 as William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
's secretary, Logan occupied pivotal roles in the colony's government—including that of chief justice of the Supreme Court and acting governor—for 50 years. He assembled one of the best libraries in colonial America, discovered the vital role of pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
in the fertilization of corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
(an achievement that caused Linnaeus to consider him "among the demigods of science"), and amassed a fortune in the fur trade.
The building is of red brick, with dark headers. The roof atop its 2½ stories is hipped
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
.
On James Logan's death in 1751, Stenton was inherited by his son, William Logan
William Logan
William Logan may refer to:*William Edmond Logan, Canadian geologist*William Logan , U.S. Senator from Kentucky*William Logan , U.S. poet and critic*William Logan , Scottish author of Malabar Manual*William F...
(1717–1776). William used Stenton mainly as a summer residence, choosing to live in Philadelphia for the rest of the year. He also built the kitchen and added many fine furnishings.
On William's death in 1776, Stenton was in turn inherited by his son, Dr. George Logan
George Logan
George Logan was an American physician, farmer, legislator and politician from Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. He served in the Pennsylvania state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate. He was a founder of the Democratic-Republican Societies in 1793...
(1753–1821), a physician and later US Senator. The house figured in the 1777 Battle of Germantown
Battle of Germantown
The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington...
, and served as headquarters of both General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and British General Lord William Howe
William Howe
William Howe may refer to:* William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe , British general during American Revolutionary War* William Howe , patented Howe Truss for covered bridges* William Dean Howe , Canadian Member of Parliament...
. George married Deborah Norris (1761–1839), a noted diarist and historian, and the person to whom Sally Wister's Journal
Sally Wister
Sarah Wister was a girl living in Pennsylvania during the American Revolution. She is principally known as the author of Sally Wister's Journal, a first-hand account of life in the nearby countryside during the British occupation of Philadelphia in 1777–78, when she was sixteen.-Family and early...
was written, in 1781. The mansion remained in the hands of the Logan family until 1910, when it was acquired by the City of Philadelphia.
Stenton, now open as a historic house museum, is an outstanding example of early American Georgian architecture. Stenton was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on January 12, 1965. The mansion lends its name to nearby Stenton Park and Stenton Avenue. The village of Stanton
Stanton, New Jersey
Stanton is an unincorporated community at the base of Round Mountain in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. The community dates back to the 17th century and was settled by the Dutch. It was originally called Housel's after Johannes Housel, who had a farmstead along Dreahook Road in the...
in Readington Township, New Jersey
Readington Township, New Jersey
Readington Township is a Township located in the easternmost portion of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,126...
also borrows its name from the mansion.
Further reading
- H.D. Eberlein and H.M. Lippincott, The Colonial Homes of Philadelphia and Its Neighbourhood, J.B. Lippincott Co., Phila. and London, 1912.
- Charles F. Jenkins, The Guide Book to Historic Germantown, Germantown Historical Society, 1973.
External links
- Official website
- Engraved image of Stenton
- Listing and images at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
- Information at FieldTrip.com
- Article at LaSalle University
- Listing at USHistory.org
- Listing, drawings, and photographs at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
